Refrigeration apparatus



Sept. 25, 1945. G s, MCC OY 2,385,525

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1945 ITNESSESz E 2 INVENTOR 0% r(immmd M 610) w'i ae aaak 1 ,invention as will be Patented Sept. 25,1945 'Graham 8. McCioy, Sprin Westinghouse El meld, Masa, aslignor toectric Corporation, burgh, Pa., a corporation of Pcnnoyl East PittavanlaApplication February 1a, 194:, Serial No. 473,726

' 6 Claim. (01. 62-4) A still further object of my invention is toproduce an improved signalling system of the concealed from view producea simplified mechanism of the type set forth which may be placed in aposition for automatic or for manual operation, or which may be renderedaltogether inactive by the manipulation of a single switch from onedesignated position to another.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an improvedelectric circuit for energizing the signalling system and the defrostingcontrol mechanism in cooperation with the refrigeration apparatus itselfand the standard temperature control thereof.

These and other objects are effected by my apparent from the followingdescription and claims taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part. of this application,.in which: V

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a preferred form of an electriccircuit for carrying out 'my invention;

- Fig. 3 is an, enlarged view of an instrument panel on which controldevices are mounted: and Fig. 4 is a view partly in top plan and partlyin horizontal section of the panel shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, I showa refrigerator l0 having a food compartment I2, a heat exchange unit I,a lamp l8, and a door M. The lamp I6 is normally energized by an toilluminate the food compartment l2.

location. which would. be con- At a suitable to the lead L: by a wireshown nor described in detail. it being suflicient at stated'intervaisto which it may nor described in detail. Also mounted on the 35 panel 24is a m1 "in w ch is used-to actuate 2) which is connected 53 and whichwill be hereinafter further describe three-way switch '52 (Fig.

26, 48 and I0, and

preferably carried by the panel 24, are a relarelatively weak siglucentmaterial.

For a description of the manner in which the elements above describedare cooperatively interis directed to Fig. 2 circuit is illustrated.

is preferably white and the lamp 56 is of a difl'erent color, such as inwhich a be seen that it is connected directly nected to one of theterminals Beginning with the clock mechanism 28, it will to the leadsLi. and L: by the wires 88 and 8| so that as long as the power supplycircuit is energized, the clock mechanism 28 will remain in operationtoactuate the switch 38 regardless of any other adjustments or settings ofthe remaining parts of the apparatus.

Referring now to the switch 48, it will be seen that it is connectedthrough the wires 44 and 82 to a switching device 83. The switchingdevice 83 has terminals 85 which coact with the terminal of the switch38, and terminals 88, 81 and a: which coact with the terminal of theswitch The panel lamp 54 is eonnectedto the-wire 44 by a wire 88 and isconnected by a wire I8 to a terminal 12 of the switch 28 which, as willbe seen from Fig. 2, is of the double acting type.

' The wire 18 also leads toone side of the food compartment lamp l8, theother side of said lamp being connected by a wire 14 to the wire 44. Thelamps 54 and i8 are therefore connected in parallel with one another andin series to the switching device 83 through the wire 82.

The other terminal 15 of the switch 28 is connected through awire 18 toone side of the si nal lamp 58, the other side of which is connecteddirectly to the lead La of the power supply circuit.

The switch 28 also includes terminals 88 and 82 which are normallyseparated from the terminals l2 and 15 when the door I8 is closed, and

which are urged into contact with the terminals 12 and 18 when the door28 is opened. The terminals 88 and 82 are connected directly to the leadL1 of the supply circuit. The wire 82 iscon- 84 of the switching device83 by e. wire 84, and to the terminal 88 or the switch 52 by a wire 88.The other terminal 84 is connected to the terminal 58 of the switch 52by a wire 88.

Operation With the clock mechanism 28 in non-defrosting position so thatthe switch 38 is in contact with the terminals 84 and with the switch 52in position A, which on thedial 58 is marked "automatic defrost, thewires 82 and 44 are electrically connected, through the wires-84, 88,and 53, to the lead 112. In this position of the parts, therefrigerating apparatus 3| will operate subject to the opening andclosing of the switch 48 by the temperature control 33 in response tochanges in temperature of the unit l4. In this position of the parts,also, and when the clock mechanism has arrived at defrosting position,which is deter= mined by the setting of the dial 28, the switch 38isopened (see Fig. 2) and the wires 82 and 44 are electrically thusinterrupting apparatus 3| which will remain inactive,

less of the position of the switch 48, until the predetermined'period oftimeto which the clock has been set shall have expired. When the clockmechanism 28 has again closed the switch 38, the refrigerating apparatus3| will again be in operation, due to the fact that the high temperaturein the unit M will have also closed the switch 48. The length of timethrough which the refrigerating apparatus will the defrosting clockaccording to the particular requirement of the unit, or the location inwhich the unit is' used, and it is only pointedout here that this lengthof time should be enough to per-' by the setting oi! to food stored mitmelting of an frost accumulating on the unit I.

Again, with the parts the refrigerating apparatus is in opwhen thereless whether eration or not, it will be seen that, irigerator door I8is opened the closed and the circuit of the lamps l8 and 54 is completedthrough the terminals 88 and 12, the wires 18, I4, 82, 84, 88, 44 and53, and the lamps i8 and 54 will be energized. If, with the parts stillin the same position but with the switch 38 open, due to the action ofthe clock mechanism 28 the door I8 is opened, the lamps |8 and 58 willobviously not be energized. This will indicate that the unit I4 is beingdefrosted. In order to indicate power failure, either in the supplycircuit L1, L2 or in the refrigerating apparatus circuit itself, whichwould render the apparatus 8| inactive and would also deenergize thelamps l8 and 54, but which failure may not be detected in good time, Iprovide the auxiliary signal'lamp 58 which is connected directly to thesupply circuit Li, La through terminals 82 and 18 so that, as long asthe lamp 58 is in order and as long as there is. power in the supplycircuit L1, L2, and as long as the internal circuit of the refrigeratorcircuit energized whenever the door regardless of the position of theswitch 38. of the clock mechanism 28, or the switch 52. The function ofthe signal lamp 58 is to prevent damage in the refrigerator which wouldresult from prolonged, undetected failure of the refrigerator apparatus.

If the switch 52 is moved to position B which, on the dial 58, is markedmanual defrost," it follows that the circuit 83 is disconnected from thelead La so'that the switching device of the re- 4o frigerating apparatus3| is also broken. This will I when continuous refrigeration render theapparatus 3| inactive and will also energize the lamps i5 and 54,regardless of the position of the switch 38. If the switch 52 is movedto position 0, which on the dial 58 is marked no defrost," it will beseen that the switching device 83 will be connected through the wires 86and 53 to the lead L2, and, since the refrigerating apparatus 3| isconnected by the wire 42 to the lead L1, and by the wires 44 and 82 tothe switching device 83, the circuit of the refrigerating apparatus 3|will remain closed, regardless of the position of the switch 38 of clockmechanism 28. Therefrigerating apparatus 3| now operatesonly subject tothe position of the switch 48, as determined by the temperature control33. This position of the parts is desirable is needed for freezing icecream or the like in the unit |4'. Also, in this position of the par-ts,when the door as is opened the circuit of the lights l8 and 54 will beclosed through the wires 82, 86 and 53, and the lights will beenergized.

The lamps 58 and 54 are so placed in relation to the dials 25,48 and 58so that these dials are normally illuminated by the lamp 54, and therel,- atively weak light from, the small, and preferably red, lamp 58will be dominated by the relatively strong light from the large lamp 54so as to be substantially invisible when gized. When the lamp 54 isdeenergized during the defrosting cycle, the light from the lamp 58 willbe visible so as to indicate that the power supply is in order, but thatthe unit I4 is being defrosted.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides still in the positiondescribed but with the switch 38 closed, and regardwitch 28 is the lamp54 is enerav switch 52 which ntrol inasmuch as it efrosting" when it isfrosting cycle by the manual defrosting if such prior to its expectedoccurr complete c may be set to "automatic d desired to control the declock mechanism, to defrosting be needed rence through actionfrigeration when it is While I have shown my inventi energizing all ofsaid lamps when the door of said refrigerator is opened, a heat-exchangeunit for cooling said foodcompartment, refrigerating means formaintainingsaid unit at below freezing temperature, and means forperiodically rendering said refrigerating apparatus inactive to allowdefrosting of said'unit, of means for prolight from said second lampwhereby the light from said signal lamp is dominated by thelight fromsaid second lamp and issuhptantlally in-.

visible when said second lamp is energized. The structure recited inclaim 3 wherein said signal lamp is of a color different from thedesire, therefore, s shall be placed therecolor 01' said second lamp andthe light from said signal lamp is also weaker than the light from 7said second lamp whereby'the light from said sigas are specifically setforth in the appended nal lamp is dominated by the light from saidsecond lamp and is substantially invisible when said second lamp isenergized. v

6. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of a cabinet, a doorfor said cabinet, electrically-driven refrigerating apparatus, said ap-.ergizing of said lamp when said door is opened from the interior ofsaid cabinet, supply lines for supplyingelectric power to saidrefrigerating apparatus, a defrost switch for interrupting the electriccurrent to said refrigerating apparatus to allow said cooling'unit todefrost, a second switch actuated by said door to open when said door isclosed and to close when said door is while said refrigerating m ldicate that said unit is bein 2. The combination with food compartment,a lam cans is inactive, to ina refrigerator having a p therein forillumia panel on which consaid lamp only when said door is 'openrasecond 'signal lamp, and electric conductors connecting PS when the doorof said -exchange unit for ment, refrigerating unit at below freez andmeans for eriodically renrefrigerator is opened, cooling said foodcompart means for maint ing temperature.

said second signal lamp and both of said switches in series to saidsupply lines to energize said second signal lamp only when the door isopen and when said refrigerating apparatus is not defrosting, both ofsaidlamps being extinguished when said door is closed, whereby when saiddoor is opened, lighting of both of said signal lamps indering saidre'fri allow defrosting venting the ener when said door ing means is inabeing defrosted.

gerating apparatu inactive to or said unit, of meansfor pregization ofboth of said lamps is opened while saidrefrigeratctive, to indicate thatsaid unit is dicates that the refrigerating apparatus is not defrosting,lighting of only said first signal lamp indicates that the refrigeratingapparatus is not operating because of the opening of said defrost*switch and the. failure of both of said signal '3. The combination wi afood compartment,

', nating said'compartm trol devices are mo luminating said co nallampin proximity to sai th 3 refrigerat a lamp therein f eat a panel onwhich cond lamp for iluxiliary sigd panel, means for unted, I a seconntroldevice lamps to light indicates that thenrefrigerating apparatus isnot operating bec'ause of a failure of power tosaid supply lines.

GRAHAM s. macros.

